Yihao Classroom

The secret to soft bread, see here


Abstract

Make sure the water or milk used to knead the dough is warm, remember warm, not hot, because hot water will destroy the yeast activity, so make sure the water temperature is comfortable to the touch. Knead the dough well, preferably for 8-10 minutes until it is almost sticky, then lightly pat some oil on your palm and apply it to the entire surface of the dough ball, and finally let it ferment as required by the recipe.

Baking Techniques

  1. Ensure the water or milk used to knead the dough is warm, not hot. Hot water will destroy the yeast's activity, so make sure the water temperature is comfortable to the touch.

  2. After kneading the dough, ideally for 8-10 minutes until it's almost sticky, lightly oil your palm and apply it to the entire surface of the dough ball. Finally, let it rise as per the recipe's instructions.

  3. Preheat the oven before placing the baking pan inside.

  4. Add a little milk to the egg yolk and brush it over the entire bread before baking. The milk helps keep the bread soft, while the egg yolk gives it a better color.

  5. The standard baking temperature for bread is between 180℃ and 200℃. Maintain the oven within this temperature range unless the recipe specifies otherwise.

  6. If your oven has separate top and bottom heating elements, don't turn them both on at once. Start with the bottom element, then turn on the top element halfway through for even heating.

  7. Except for individual slices of bread, most loaves take 12-20 minutes to bake. If the bread isn't browned enough after this time, you can slightly increase the temperature, but keep a close eye on it to prevent burning.

  8. After baking, immediately brush some butter onto the hot bread and cover it with a kitchen cloth to retain moisture and softness.